Waititu’s case will be a lesson for many – AG

September 26, 2012 7:31 pm

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By LABAN WANAMBISI, Waititu has been ordered to appear in court on Thursday to face charges/CFM-FileNAIROBI, Kenya Sep 26- Attorney General Githu Muigai has told Parliament that Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu’s incitement case will be used as an example to those who want to provoke communities against others.

“The government wants to send a strong message that nobody… nobody no matter how low or how high will escape the full force of the law on this question of hate speech; on this question of the incitement against others,” he told Parliament on Wednesday.

The government’s legal adviser added; “This case is a good example, we (will) send a clear warning to any person who might be contemplating inciting one community against the other.”

Muigai told a charged sitting of the House that inflammatory statements attributed to Waititu are regrettable and pledged that all involved in the incident will be prosecuted.

“We therefore take great exception to the hateful, derogatory, odious, vile and ill-informed utterances said to have been made by Waititu,” the AG said.

Kisumu West MP Olago-Aluoch reminded MPs that where incitement leads to death a suspect may face murder charges.

Muigai agreed but said the Executive was acting cautiously but wanted the Director of Public Prosecutions to work independently without it being seen as interfering.

“This sort of conduct will be apprehended quickly and will be followed by swift prosecution. We hope the courts will give appropriate punishment,” he said, noting that the country was unwilling to abet utterances similar to those that led to the 2007-2008 post-poll violence.

MPs Boni Khalwale (Ikolomani) and Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu) had demanded the sacking of the water and irrigation assistant minister over Monday’s violent confrontation between street boys and guards which left two people dead in Kayole.

LABAN WANAMBISI Laban Wanambisi is a Parliamentary and Political reporter. He joined the Capital Newsteam in 2005. Since then, he has reported on many of the major news events over the years including his first major assignment covering the 2005 National Referendum on the Draft Constitution, and several other subsequent key national and international events.